DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Saturday 10/1/22(Main Slate)

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Pitchers

Early

Ross Stripling FD - P 8000 DK - RP 7400
Opponent - BOS (Brayan Bello) Park - TOR
FD - 27.36 DK - 15.06

With all the injuries to the Jays' starting rotation in 2022, Stripling could be considered the MVP of the team as he has been rock solid. He stepped into a regular spot in the rotation in early June and over 18 starts has held opponents to two or fewer earned runs in 14 of 18 starts for an impressive 2.80 ERA. He now faces a Red Sox team that has dropped seven of their last 10 games and was shut out in game one of the series on Friday night. Stripling offers us savings on this smaller slate allowing us to spend up for an expensive SP1 and/or some big bats. I will have exposure in all formats.

Main

Cristian Javier FD - P 10100 DK - SP 9400
Opponent - TB (Shane McClanahan) Park - HOU
FD - 41.62 DK - 22.39

Like we have discussed a ton recently, there is elevated risk with pitch counts this time of year but we just can't ignore how dominant Javier has been in the second half and specifically down the stretch. He has held opponents to just one earned run over his last four starts and tallied an elite 1.96 ERA over 11 second-half starts with a 30.4% K rate. The matchup isn't at the top of my list against the Rays who are all but locked into a wildcard spot but have struggled a bit lately losers of four of their last five going into Friday night while striking out over 27% of the time. At these prices, especially under $10K on DraftKings, Javier is my top pitcher on this slate.

Catcher/First Base

Early

Luis Arraez FD - 1B 3000 DK - 1B 3500
Opponent - DET (Drew Hutchison) Park - DET
FD - 8.66 DK - 6.78

We talked about Arraez a ton this season as he led the league in hitting for a good portion of the year and he is also finishing strong. While he hasn't provided a ton of upside with a league-average 99 wRC+ in September, he has been very consistent with hits in 20 of 22 games while hitting .299 for the month. He and the Twins also get a plus matchup on Saturday against Drew Hutchinson who doesn't strike many out(14%), comes in with a 4.54 ERA/4.99 xFIP, and struggles against lefties giving up a .379 wOBA/.520 SLG %(.299 wOBA/.354 SLG to righties). At these prices, Arraez is a top play on the early/turbo slate.

Main

Nathaniel Lowe FD - 1B 2900 DK - 1B 3500
Opponent - LAA (José Suarez) Park - LAA
FD - 9.12 DK - 6.91

With the optimal build likely involving top pitching, we will be looking for value bats and this game between the Rangers and Angels offers just that. Both teams have some big bats but what I like here is that they are surrounded by value and it starts at first base. Nathaniel Lowe hasn't provided a ton of upside recently but does have hits in seven of his last nine games, is hitting over .300 on the season with26 home runs. It's a lefty/lefty matchup but I am not concerned as he has been terrific in the split this with a .402 wOBA and 166 wRC+ on the season. Fire up Lower as a top PTS/$ play on this main slate.

Second Base

Early

Gleyber Torres FD - 2B 3600 DK - 2B 4300
Opponent - BAL (Austin Voth) Park - NYY
FD - 10.19 DK - 7.8

Somewhat overlooked by the Aaron Judge home run chase has been how good Gleyber Torres has been down the stretch. Even coming off an 0 for 4 last night, he comes into today's game with a .377 average with .460 wOBA and 208 wRC+ over his last 17 games and is displaying the power numbers(24 home runs on the season) we saw earl in his career(18/19). The Yankees have locked up the division but still look to pile on wins and at these prices, Torres is a core play for me on this early slate.

Main

Luis Rengifo FD - 2B 2500 DK - 2B/3B 4200
Opponent - TEX (Cole Ragans) Park - LAA
FD - 11.6 DK - 8.93

Rengifo continued to run hot on Friday with a home run and extended his hit streak to six games and has hit over .300 in his last 15 games with a .372 wOBA and 144 wRC+. It's no wonder the Angels moved him to the leadoff spot ahead of Mike Trout but the sites have yet to adjust his price. He gets another terrific matchup on Saturday against lefty Cole Ragans and has crushed lefties to the tune of a .414 wOBA, 173 wRC+ and .276 ISO. Rengifo is a great value and one of our top PTS/$ plays on the slate.

Shortstop

Early

Isiah Kiner-Falefa FD 2300 DK 3100
Opponent - BAL (Austin Voth) Park - BAL
FD - 6.2 DK - 4.87

The Yankees' success has been far from just one man's massive power(Yes, Judge!) but collectively they have had success with a very balanced lineup. Providing value in the bottom half of the lineup has been Kiner-Falefa who has now put together back-to-back 20+ stolen base seasons. He has also put together a solid month of September with hits in 18 of 21 games giving the Yankees a 119 wRC+ in that time. For DFS purposes, his bargain bin price helps us to pay up for his teammate Nester Cortes on the mound and Judge at the plate. He is in play in all formats for me today.

Main

Kevin Newman FD 2500 DK 3600
Opponent - STL (Jordan Montgomery) Park - STL
FD - 4.43 DK - 3.5

I will be targeting more value at shortstop on the main slate with Kevin Newman who profiles almost the same. He isn't going to singlehandedly win you a GPP with upside but does provide consistency and comes in with hits in 10 of his last 11 games. On top of that form, he has also been excellent against left-handed pitching with a  .375 wOBA and 143 wRC+ on the season. Again, we are going to need value to afford the elite pitching on this slate and Newman is one I am targeting in all formats.

Third Base

Early

Eugenio Suárez FD 3500 DK 4700
Opponent - OAK (JP Sears) Park - OAK
FD - 10.87 DK - 8.09

The Mariners have locked up a wildcard spot but will look to overtake the Jays for the top spot in hopes of getting home field advantage. This makes me feel very confident they will be giving 100% with their starts and Suarez is one I want exposure to here. While the average overall(.238) has been a disappointment, he has once again provided big upside with 31 home runs(4th time in five years) and 85 BRI. The core of that power has also come against lefties where he has posted a .401 wOBA/171 wRC+ in the split and he faces a struggling lefty in JP Sears who has given up five or more earned runs in three of his last four starts. Fire up Suarez in all formats.

Main

Yoán Moncada FD 2500 DK 3800
Opponent - SD (Mike Clevinger) Park - SD
FD - 7.42 DK - 5.62

I won't be stacking the White Sox today but feel we can target some value to help us load up elsewhere. Moncada will be one of those values I target as he has been one of the bright spots down the stretch hitting .310 with a .386 wOBA and 155 wRC+ going back to late August. He has been better against lefties but it's hard to ignore the matchup against a struggling Mike Clevinger who has given up four or more earned runs in four of their last five starts including seven long balls. Fire up Moncada in all formats as a one-off value.

Outfield

Early

Joc Pederson FD 3200 DK 5500
Opponent - ARI (Drey Jameson) Park - ARI
FD - 9.99 DK - 7.5

I never imagined looking at the top tier of outfielders and actually clicking on Joc Pederson but here we are! In all fairness, he has been terrific lately with hits in seven of his last eight games with five multi-hit efforts including a  double, three triples, and a home run. Some may look at the matchup and be scared off as rookie Drey Jameson has allowed just two earned runs in his three starts but he is overdue for regression allowing 12 hits and four walks over his last two starts with a whopping 16 hard hits balls. The Giants are on my radar on the early slate and Pederson is in play for me in all formats.

Main

Taylor Ward FD 3700 DK 4200
Opponent - TEX (Cole Ragans) Park - TEX
FD - 8.98 DK - 6.81

It feels like the Angels are getting these awesome matchups night in and night out and it is classic for them to rack up these wins when already eliminated from the playoffs. Wins and losses don't matter to us, however, and I love their offense for fantasy as they give us high-priced, elite bats but also surrounded by excellent PTS/$ values. Taylor Ward is one of them as he hits cleanup behind Trout and Ohtani and has been terrific lately with four straight multi-hit games and has at least one hit in 14 of his last 15 games hitting .436 in that time. With that form and this plus matchup, he is in play in all formats.

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